SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1~*~ More About The Founders Four ~*~

~I know it's hard sometimes

~To do what must be done

~It's hard to except these duties

~When all you want to do is run

~But when the future depends on you

~You know you have to be strong

~Because it's people like you

~That make it right over wrong

~And so I have to tell you

~I know that it may be hard

~But if you believe you will have the strength

~To go the final yard

~So when the future's bleak

~You feel as if you cannot go on

~Remember to believe

~Remember to be strong

James's attitude towards what the Sorting Hat had said had shaken me a little. It obviously meant something to him, or he wouldn't have snapped - but the question was, how much exactly did it mean to him? The one thing I knew for sure was that he wasn't about to let on what. But that wasn't going to stop me finding out.

So on Saturday, I decided to seek him out. I found James sitting under a beech tree, the one he usually sat under with Sirius, Remus and Peter. But that day, he was alone.

Firregaze was at my heels as per usual, slinking along as a fox. I approached the tree from behind, but I think James knew I was there. He didn't say anything, however.

'James,' I said quietly. He didn't look up.

I sat down next to him and said nothing. Eventually, he spoke.

'Lily, are you really a muggle born?' he asked.

If I had been expecting anything, it definitely hadn't been that.

'As far as I know. I didn't know my father very well...' At all, I thought.

'How come?' he asked, picking a blade of grass and rolling it between his fingers.

'Well, he died when I was about six. Wouldn't my mother know if he was magical?'

'Not necessarily,' was all James said.

'Why?' I asked.

James sighed.

'This might sound cruel, but I don't mean it in a nasty way. I... I was glad that you were a muggle born. But now I'm not so sure.'

I watched his face. His eyes were troubled, a stormy grey clouding the usual sapphire colour.

'I know you have it tough as a muggle born. But you're away from all the real terrors of the wizarding world.' He took a breath and ran his hand through his hair. 'In Divination, our Professor is obsessing over what the Sorting Hat. She says that she knows who the four are.'

'And?'

'She won't say anything,' James said, rolling his eyes. 'I doubt she knows. But something she said...'

'What?'

'Don't worry. I'm just... worried that you might not be a muggle born.'

'Why? What does it matter?' I asked, frowning. James stood, his brow creased.

'Because if you're not a muggle born, it's possible that you could be one of the four,' he said roughly, before stalking off to the castle.

I watched him in shock.

Firregaze, too, was watching James stride quickly away, but soon came to settle curled in my lap. I stroked his fur absent mindedly.

James was definitely hiding something.

* * *

'Bella?' I called as I walked up the stairs. She was lounging on her bed with a magazine. When I walked in, she smiled.

'Hi, what's up?'

'James,' I sighed, flopping down on the bed next to her.

'What about him?'

I looked around to make sure noone else was around.

'Well... this might sound weird, and I'm probably wrong... but I think he thinks he's one of the four.'

'As in, the four founders's heirs?' she asked, eyebrows shooting up.

'Yeah,' I nodded. 'It's just that this morning, I was talking to him. And he asked me if I was really a muggle born.'

'What the...?' Bella said with confusion.

'I thought that too, but then I realised - I never knew my father. For all I know, he could have been a wizard.'

'True. Anyway, keep going.'

'So I asked him why he wanted to know, of course. Why would that matter? And then he tells me that he's worried that if I'm not a muggle born, it's possible I could be one of the four. And then he walked off.'

'There are about a thousand people in this school. It could be anyone,' Bella said, her face crinkled in puzzlement.

'I know. But I think he knows something we don't. He mentioned something his Divination professor said to him, but he wouldn't tell me what.'

'Why would he think he's one? You don't think he knows for sure that he's related to one of the founders?'

'I don't know. He won't tell me. But I think he's worried that if he's one... we might be one too. I mean, the hat did talk about loved ones and friendship,' I said, shrugging.

'That's ridiculous,' Bella said, laughing. 'I doubt that we have anything to do with it, or James either, for that matter. But if he is, the other three would come from the other three houses, wouldn't they?'

I could only shrug in reply.

But for then, I knew what I needed to do. I needed to get James to open up to me. And to do that, I had to cheer him up.

And to cheer him up, I had to...

Tickle.

* * *

'Hi Lily,' James said, a lot more cheerful than he had been the previous day.

'Hi,' I said. He eyed me warily.

'What are you up to?'

'Nothing,' I said, frowning.

'You're up to something,' he said, still looking at me suspiciously. He was sitting at a table near the fire, studying.

'And how would you know?'

'Because I'm good at sensing these things. I've been 'up to something' all my life. Besides, I know more about you than you think.'

'The only thing guys know for sure about girls is that they have boobs, and even that could be a figment of your imagination,' I replied, sitting down next to me. James raised his eyebrows.

'I must have a pretty inactive imagination, then,' he teased. I hit him.

'You are so hilarious,' I said dryly.

'I've always thought so, anyway. So, I'll ask you again, Lily - what are you up to?'

'One word, Jamsie: tickle.'

'Aha. I knew it. But I have two words of my own: tickle back.'

'Bring it on,' I said with a smirk, going right in. I got his sides, but he was at mine too.

'Regretting this plan yet?' James managed through his half-stifled laughter.

'No,' I said determinedly, tackling him off the couch.

'Thanks for breaking my fall,' I teased.

'You're welcome, here anytime I'm needed.'

'Great to know,' I breathed, struggling to sit across James's stomach.

'This is quite a common position for you nowadays, isn't it?' he asked with a smirk.

'What can I say? You're comfy. If you're ever short of a job, you should seriously consider becoming a pillow.'

'I'll keep it in mind,' he replied, flipping me over. I landed with a thud on my back. He took my wrists in his hands and leaned over me.

'Who's the king now?' he said cockily.

'Me,' I said, pushing him away with my feet. He released my hands and I crawled away.

'Oh really?' he asked, getting onto his knees. 'I was under the impression that you were a female.' He grabbed my ankle to stop me from escaping as he moved closer to me again.

'According to your imagination, no,' I replied. James blushed a little.

'I lied,' he whispered in my ear.

I could feel my own face growing hot.

'Lily Evans! Where have you been?' screeched Hilary from the Portrait Hole. James and I immediately pulled away from each other, and our heads snapped around.

'Uh, here?' I offered. Hilary didn't look too impressed about something.

'Yeah, well Bella and I have been looking for you everywhere! You have to come! Now!'

'Er, OK then,' I said, standing up. 'Bye James.'

'Bye, Lily.'

'What the hell was that about?' I asked once Hilary had dragged me out of the Portrait Hole.

'Sorry, but this is serious. Bella is rather... er, disturbed,' she said, looking slightly panicky.

'Spill,' I commanded as we headed for the library.

'OK. Well, in Divination the third years are doing prophecies and stuff, and Sirius had this pile of books. Bella picked one up to read, because she thought it looked interesting and... it doesn't look good.'

Bella was sitting on a pouffe in the corner of the library her nose in a blue book. Her face was crinkled in a frown.

'What's going on?' I asked, as me and Hilary took the pouffes closest to hers. Bella handed me the book. It was entitled 'Unsolved and Unclear... Mystical Mysteries in the World of Seeing'.

Bella had the book opened up to a section on general prophecies that had been made and remained unfulfilled. Prophecies about no one in particular, prophecies that puzzled the wizarding world.

She had marked one with a post-it note, and I scanned over it.

'Geez, it's long.'

'Read it,' Bella said quietly.

'Oh my god,' was all I could mutter as I read it.

'Yeah, that's what we thought. Do you think they're actually connected?'

'It's a pretty big coincidence otherwise,' I said softly.

And it was the truth. Because there was an uncanny relation between that prophecy, and the Sorting Hat's song.

'So what do you think it means?' I whispered.

'It means - it probably means - that we are heading for dark times. And that everything depends on those four people,' Hilary said. We fell silent, and a sudden urge to speak to James overcame me.

'Guys... can I... can I take this? I need to go see something...' I said.

Hilary and Bella exchanged glances, and I think they understood.

'Yeah, take it. We have some other books to check out... we just thought you might find it interesting...' Hilary trailed off. I knew she had been worried since I had told her what James had said to me. I nodded.

'Thanks. We can talk about it tonight, right?'

'Yeah... see you later.'

I practically ran back to the Common Room. James was nowhere in sight. So, what choice did I have? I went up to the dormitory.

I paused at the door, beginning to think this was a rather stupid idea. The last time I had mentioned the Sorting Hat's song James had practically ripped my head off. But before I had time to back out, the door opened.

'Lily,' was all James said, looking surprised.

'James,' I said breathlessly. I hesitated, then held the book out to him. 'Have you seen this?'

'This is the book we have to study in Divination,' he said slowly, taking it off me.

'Yeah, but have you read it? Don't get mad with me like before, but -'

James cut me off.

'Mad? When was I mad?'

'The other day, when I asked you about the Sorting...'

'Oh... but what's with this book?' he asked, frowning and turning to walk back into his dorm. I hovered in the doorway. He looked up.

'You can come in,' he said. I looked hopelessly at him. After a moment of self-debate, I walked over and sat next to him on his bed.

'So what on earth is this about?'

'That,' I said, pointing to the prophecy. James read it aloud.

'Over the course of a perfunctory year, four children shall be born

And in a way likewise only to them, four tragedies they shalt mourn

They will experience life and death on solstice and equinox's eves

Blossoming and fruitful petals of a flower, falling as the flower's leaves

The first, a child gifted with pure heart and head of strongest will

The second one of loyalty and a fierce faithfulness to fulfil

The third blessed with heart's fire to hold and protect all near

The fourth of courage arrant and true, carries justice's spear

All the same in certain ways though different at second glance

Four unite in friendship and love to secure goodness's second chance

Though each possess an ability, a sacred crystal answers only when they ask

And it is these descendants four that use it for the intended task

Their rolls are played in a different sequence to their birth

In pairs they act, one of love and the second two of mirth

Each child of quatern shall grow to learn their part to play

One to fight, and one to give, one to flee, and one to stay

First to protect, second to love, third to answer a fifth's call

Fourth to assist to fulfil the quest and somehow deliver us all

The snake and the lion conquer the ancient age argument

While badger and raven reunite to seek out lost time once spent

Four absolute in blood of ancestors past, blessed with hope and love pure

When darkness overcomes the world, the danger their four hearts shall endure

Though the task shall kill all before they can live to see the world repair

The final two will fall bravely while aiding the passed couplet's heir

This child born strong of two of four is destined to make final amends

It's decisions faced and made is what shall eventually secure the end.'

James stared at the book for a little.

'You think it's talking about the same thing?' he asked hesitantly.

'Well, do you? It sounds like it.'

'They seem to be talking about the same thing, but they're giving different information,' he said slowly.

'But think, James. This prophecy was made ten years ago. The Sorting Hat mentioned it recently. Maybe it knows... and the four have finally come to Hogwarts, and it's time... so it's giving the final clues so they can work out who they are.'

'Two by mother... two by sire...' James murmured. I nodded.

'First borns. Plus the prophecy mentions four tragedies. It talks about a lion and a snake and an age-old argument - it has to be talking about the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. James, you were hiding something from me the other day, and it had something to do with this. You have to tell me, please.'

He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair despairingly.

'I don't want it to be like this,' he sighed. After a moment, he looked back up at me. 'Alright. I'll tell you. But I think... I think the others should be here too.'

* * *

About five to ten minutes later, we were all sitting up in the boy's dormitories. By all of us I meant myself, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Hilary and Bella. And James looked extremely pale.

'Have you all seen the prophecy?' he asked, his voice toneless. Sirius, Remus and Peter shook their heads.

'Can they read it?'

Bella passed the book to Remus, who read it and passed it on. Everyone seemed slightly unnerved at the way James was acting - he appeared anxious about something.

'I need to tell you guys something, because it affects you. And it involves that,' he said, looking at the book. 'Our family is pureblood, all the way. Goes back about as far as possible. Charles's side goes way back, several hundred years. But Sarah, she goes back even further.'

Hilary's eyes were opening wide.

'I've known this for ages, and I've never told you... but Sarah is related to Godric Gryffindor. Which makes us heirs,' he said, meeting Hilary's gaze.

'And makes you the first born,' I whispered. He nodded.

'But who are the other four?' Bella asked. 

'Lily,' James asked, turning his back to us. 'Your birthday is on the twentieth of June, isn't it?'

'Yes,' I said.

'Bella?'

'Twenty first of December.'

'And Sirius? You're the twenty first of March,' James said, finally turning around again. 'My birthday is on the twenty second of September. The eve of the autumn equinox. The twenty first of Match is the eve of the spring equinox, and...'

'The twenty first of December is the eve of winter solstice,' continued Bella. My heart beating fast, I tucked my hair behind my ear, slightly nervous.

'And the twentieth of June is the eve of summer solstice,' I finished.

'So we're the four?' Sirius asked. 'But we're all in Gryffindor...'

'You don't necessarily have th same traits as your ancient ancestors, Sirius,' Remus said quietly. Peter was still staring cluelessly at James, a slightly frightened look on his face.

'You're all born within a year of each other, too,' Hilary added, as if in confirmation of the fact that was still only slowly sinking in.

'Two by mother, two by sire...' muttered Sirius.

'My mother,' James said quietly. 'And I'm the heir of Gryffindor.'

'My father,' I said, my tone just as quiet. Everyone looked at me.

'But Lily's muggle born,' Bella said suddenly.

'Apparently not,' said James grimly. 'Lily never knew her father.'

'It has to be my mother,' Bella said. 'My dad was muggle born.'

'And that leaves my father,' Sirius sighed. 'Whom I never knew, either.'

'This is scary,' Peter said. We all nodded.

'I don't envy you, that's for sure,' Remus said softly, his expression worried and sympathetic.

'We're going to die,' I said, looking out the window.

We were all holding our breath, waiting for James to say something. And finally, he did.

'We need to go see Dumbledore.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Oooooooooh it's getting darker now! Hehehehe. Hmm. Do you like it? I wanna know - should it go darker, or don't you want that?

Anyways, hello to all my newbies! Throwing popcorn is prohibited, but yes, you may use cookies instead. Hehehehehehe. Man that whole evil laugh thing is olod now but hey, it's me. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Right, now I have that out of my system....

Did you like my prophecy? I don't like it that much. It doesn't *flow* properly. But I still put a lot of work into it so you better appreciate it! Hehehe.

Oh well, I shall go now. Sorry that this chap and the last one were short, but the next one will be longer.

Bye, bye, gotta fly...

º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ºE`Eº¤ø,¸¸,ø¤~SezZie~¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ºE`Eº¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ºE